Interactive input system and method

Abstract

An interactive input system comprises an interactive surface; and processing structure for receiving an image from a mobile computing device, and processing the received image for display on the interactive surface.

1 . An interactive input system comprising:
 an interactive surface; and   processing structure for receiving an image from a mobile computing device, and processing the received image for display on the interactive surface.   
     
     
         2 . The interactive input system of  claim 1  comprising at least one proximity sensor. 
     
     
         3 . The interactive input system of  claim 2  wherein the processing structure processes proximity sensor output to determine user location information. 
     
     
         4 . The interactive input system of  claim 3  wherein the user location information comprises an approximate location of at least one user positioned adjacent to the interactive surface. 
     
     
         5 . The interactive input system of  claim 4  wherein the processing structure processes the received image based at least on the approximate location of the at least one user. 
     
     
         6 . The interactive input system of  claim 5  wherein the processed received image is displayed on the interactive surface at a location corresponding to the approximate location of the at least one user. 
     
     
         7 . The interactive input system of  claim 5  wherein the processed received image is displayed on the interactive surface at an orientation corresponding to the approximate location of the at least one user. 
     
     
         8 . The interactive input system of  claim 5  wherein the processing structure processes the received image based on interactive surface information data. 
     
     
         9 . The interactive input system of  claim 8  wherein the interactive surface information data comprises at least one of a size of the interactive surface, and an orientation of the interactive surface. 
     
     
         10 . The interactive input system of  claim 9  wherein the received image comprises at least one graphical object. 
     
     
         11 . The interactive input system of  claim 10  wherein the at least one graphical object is modifiable. 
     
     
         12 . The interactive input system of  claim 11  wherein the processing structure associates at least one of a maximum size and a preferred size to each of the at least one modifiable graphical objects. 
     
     
         13 . The interactive input system of  claim 12  wherein the processing structure determines if at least one modifiable graphical object will exceed its associated maximum size after said processing. 
     
     
         14 . The interactive input system of  claim 13  wherein in the event that the at least one modifiable graphical object will exceed its associated maximum size after said processing, the at least one modifiable graphical object is displayed on the interactive surface at its preferred size. 
     
     
         15 . The interactive input system of  claim 14  wherein the at least one modifiable graphical object is displayed on the interactive surface at its preferred size at a location corresponding to the approximate location of the at least one user. 
     
     
         16 . The interactive input system of  claim 1  wherein the processing structure is connected to the mobile computing device through one of a wired and wireless connection. 
     
     
         17 . The interactive input system of  claim 1  further comprising a docking station for connecting the mobile computing device to the processing structure. 
     
     
         18 . The interactive input system of  claim 17  wherein the docking station comprises at least one servomechanism for tilting the docking station at a predefined angle. 
     
     
         19 . The interactive input system of  claim 18  wherein in response to tilting the docking station at the predefined angle, an orientation of the received image is adjusted. 
     
     
         20 . A method comprising:
 receiving an image from a mobile computing device; and   processing the received image for display on an interactive surface.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  further comprising:
 receiving sensor output from at least one sensor in proximity with the interactive surface and processing the sensor output to determine user location information. 
 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising:
 determining an approximate location of at least one user positioned adjacent to the interactive surface based on the user location information. 
 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  further comprising:
 displaying the processed received image at a location on the interactive surface corresponding to the approximate location of the at least one user. 
 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22  further comprising:
 displaying the processed received image at an orientation on the interactive surface corresponding to a viewpoint of the at least one user. 
 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the received image comprises at least one graphical object. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  further comprising determining a size of the at least one graphical object when displayed on the interactive surface and if the size is greater than a maximum size, displaying the graphical object on the interactive surface at a preferred size. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the graphical object is displayed on the interactive surface at a location corresponding to the approximate location of the at least one user. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising:
 determining a desired orientation of the received image based on the user location information; and 
 adjusting the orientation of the mobile computing device such that the received image is oriented at the desired orientation. 
 
     
     
         28 . A non-transitory computer readable medium embodying a computer program for execution by a computer, the computer program comprising:
 program code for receiving an image from a mobile computing device; and   program code for processing the received image for display on an interactive surface.